IMPORTANT!
2008
NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE
ARTICLE 682
“NATURAL and ARTIFICIALLY MADE BODIES of WATER”
1. General
682.1 SCOPE. This article applies to the installation of electrical wiring for, and equipment in
and adjacent to, natural or artificially made bodies of water not covered by other articles in this
Code, such as but not limited to aeration ponds, fish farm ponds, storm retention basins,
treatment ponds, irrigation (channels) facilities.
682.2 Definitions.
Artificially Made Bodies of Water. Bodies of water that have been constructed or modified
to fit some decorative or commercial purpose such as, but not limited to ,aeration ponds, fish farm
ponds, storm retention basins, treatment ponds, irrigation (channel) facilities. Water depth may
vary seasonally or be controlled.
Electrical Datum Plane. The electrical datum plane as used in this article is defined as
follows:
(1) In land areas subject to tidal fluctuation, the electrical datum plane is a horizontal plane
600 mm (2 ft) above the highest tide level for the area occurring under normal
circumstances, that is, highest high tide.
(2) In land areas not subject to tidal fluctuation, the electrical datum plane is a horizontal
plane 600 mm (2 ft) above the highest water level for the area occurring under normal
circumstances.
(3) In land areas subject to flooding, the electrical datum plane 600 mm (2 ft) above the
point identified as the prevailing high water mark or an equivalent benchmark based on
seasonal or storm-driven flooding from the authority having jurisdiction.
(4) The electrical datum plane for floating structures and stages that are (1) installed to
permit rise and fall response to water level, without lateral movement, and (2) that are so
equipped that they can rise to the datum plane established for (1) or (2) above, is a
horizontal plane 750 mm (30 in.) above the water level at the floating structure or
landing stage and a minimum of 300 mm (12 in.) above the level of the deck.
Equipotential Plane. An area where wire mesh or other conductive elements are on,
embedded in, or placed under the walk surface within 75 mm (3 in), bonded to all metal
structures and fixed nonelectrical equipment that may become energized and connected to the
electrical grounding system to prevent a difference in voltage from developing within the plane.
Natural Bodies of Water. Bodies of water such as lakes, streams, ponds, rivers and other
naturally occurring bodies of water, which may vary in depth throughout the year.
Shoreline. The farthest extent of standing water under the applicable conditions that determine
the electrical datum plane for the specified body of water.
682.3 Other Articles. Wiring and equipment in or adjacent to natural or artificial bodies of
water shall comply with the applicable provisions of other articles of this code, except as
modified by this article. If the water is subject to boat traffic, the wiring shall comply with
555.13 (B).
ÍÍ Installation
682.10 Electrical Equipment and Transformers. Electrical equipment and transformers,
including their enclosures, shall be specifically approved for the intended location. No portion of
an enclosure for electrical equipment not identified for operation while submerged shall be
located below the electrical datum plane.
682.11 Location of Service Equipment. On land, the service equipment for floating
structures and submersible electrical equipment shall be located no closer than 1.5 m (5 ft)
horizontally from the shoreline and live parts elevated a minimum of 300 mm (12 in.) above the
electrical datum. Service equipment shall disconnect when the water level reaches the height of
the established electrical datum plane.
682.12 Electrical Connections. All electrical connections not intended for operation while
submerged shall be located at least 300 mm (12 in) above the deck of a floating or fixed structure,
but not below the electrical datum plane.
682.13 Wiring Methods and Installation. Liquidtight flexible metal conduit or liquidtight
flexible nonmetallic conduit with approved fittings shall be permitted for feeder and where
flexible connections are required for services. Extra-hard usage portable power cable listed for
both wet locations and sunlight resistance shall be permitted for a feeder or a branch circuit where
flexibility is required. Other wiring methods suitable for the location shall be permitted to be
installed where flexibility is not required. Temporary wiring in accordance with 590.4 shall be
permitted.
682.14 Disconnecting Means for Floating Structures or Submersible Electrical
Equipment.
(A) Type. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to consist of a circuit breaker, switch, or
both and shall be properly identified as to which structure or equipment it controls.
(B) Location. The disconnecting means shall be readily accessible on land and shall be located
in the supply circuit ahead of the structure or the equipment connection. The disconnecting
means shall be located not more than 750 mm (30 in) from the structure or equipment connection.
The disconnect means shall be within sight of, but not closer than 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally from
the edge of the shoreline and live parts elevated a minimum of 300 mm (12 in) above the
electrical datum plane.
682.15 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Protection. Fifteen – 20-Ampere
single phase, 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed outdoors and in or on
floating buildings or structures within the electrical datum plane area that are used for
storage, maintenance or repair where portable electric hand tools, electrical diagnostic
equipment, portable lighting equipment are to be used shall be provided with GFCI
protection. The GFCI protection device shall be located not less than 300 mm (12 in)
above the established electrical datum plane.
ÍÍÍ. Grounding and Bonding
682.30 Grounding. Wiring and equipment within the scope of this article shall be
grounded as specified in Part III of 553, 555.15, and with the requirements in Part ÍÍÍ of
this article.
682.31 Equipment Grounding Conductors.
(A) Type. Equipment grounding conductors shall be insulated copper conductors sized
in accordance with 250.122 but not smaller than 12AWG.
(B) Feeders. Where a feeder supplies a remote panel board, an insulated equipment
grounding conductor shall extend from a grounding terminal in the service to a grounding
terminal and a busbar in the remote panel board.
(C) Branch Circuits. The insulated grounding conductor for branch circuits shall
terminate at the grounding terminal in a remote panel board or on the grounding terminal
in the main service equipment.
(D) Cord-and-Plug Connected Appliances. Where required to be grounded, cord-andplug connected appliances shall be grounded by means of an equipment grounding
conductor in the cord and a grounding type attachment.
682.32 Bonding of Non-Current-Current-Carrying Metal Parts.
All metal parts in contact with water, all metal piping, tanks and all non-current carrying
metal parts that may become energized shall be bonded to the grounding bus in the panel
board.
682.33 Equipotential Planes and Bonding of Equipotential Planes. An Equipotential
plane shall be installed where required in this section to mitigate step and touch voltages
at electrical equipment.
(A) Areas Requiring Equipotential Planes. Equipotential planes shall be installed
adjacent to all outdoor service or disconnecting means that control equipment in or on
water, that have metallic enclosure and controls accessible to personnel, and that are
likely to become energized. The equipotential plane shall encompass the area around the
equipment and shall extend from the area directly below the equipment out not less than
900 mm (36 in) in all directions from which a person would be able to stand and come in
contact with the equipment.
(B) Areas Not Requiring Equipotential Planes. Equipotential planes shall not be
required for the controlled equipment supplied by the service equipment or disconnecting
means. All circuits rated not more than at 120 through 250 volts, single phase, shall have
GFCI protection.
(C) Bonding. Equipotential planes shall be bonded to the electrical grounding system.
The bonding conductor shall be solid copper, insulated, covered or bare and not smaller
than 8AWG. Connections shall be made by exothermic welding or by listed pressure
clamps that are labeled as being suitable for the purpose and are of stainless steel, brass,
copper or copper alloy.